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Meet the critters inside your mattress

Seeded on Fri Jul 30, 2010 6:09 PM EDT

Article Source: CNN

health, bed-bugs

Seeded by GoldenGateMami_Susi

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(CNN) -- It's a wild, nasty world under the sheets.

The mattress can be a jungle of dust mites and bedbugs, milling around among dried remnants of blood, saliva, sweat and basically all the other bodily fluids you can think of.

Bedbugs have become minor celebrities this week with a report from the National Pest Management Association showing that the problem is on the rise. Bedbug calls have gone up by 81 percent since 2000, the study said, and 67 percent of surveyed pest management companies have treated bedbug infestations in hotels or motels.

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Public Discussion (52)

GoldenGateMami_Susi

Oh, goody.

3 votes

#1 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 6:10 PM EDT

Well, as homeowners, we can fold up our sheets and freeze them in the freezer, dry, for about 7 days. That kills the bed bugs and the eggs. Before you unfold the sheets, take them outside and check and see if you have any bodies... Be sure to fluff the sheets up-- other things in the yard will eat the frozen/dead bodies.

If they are on the mattress, you're pretty much stuck, unless you're willing to use a pesticide, and I'm not. So, wrap and hermetically seal the mattress in plastic, take it to the dump, and replace it.

These latest bedbugs are pesticide resistant-- which is not a good sign. We're having the same problems in Louisville. Thank heavens we're campers, and don't stay in hotels!

An old scourge has reared its ugly head!

Great article! Thanks for posting it! Love you, my dear dear Susi!

3 votes

#2 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 6:59 PM EDT

GoldenGateMami_Susi

(((D))) Btw, just posted a seed about Phyllis Schlaffly's latest---against unmarried women/single moms.........ooooooooo my hide is chapped!

OMG! I'm itching all over like a fiend! I have never in my life seen them. I swear to God next to snakes I think I have a new phobia.

I'm going to take your advice. I'm steam cleaning all our sofas, chairs and mattresses this weekend. Just had to take my dog in today to check for ticks for the first time ever in his life.

This is scary.

Thanks for the helpful hints!

:)

3 votes

#2.1 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 7:11 PM EDT

I know, I have the traveling itch, too-- you know, it starts here, and just as soon as you touch it-- it moves there... or there... ;-)

Point me to Phyllis Shafly! She isn't one of my favorite people, either!

My thought has always been-- if she is so determined that women stay home and take care of their families, why isn't she?

(((((((((Susi))))))))))

2 votes

#2.2 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 8:52 PM EDT

GoldenGateMami_Susi

OMG! My daughter thinks I'm NUTS (ok, so I am) but...when I ask her to scratch my back I tell her to hurry because it's jumping from spot to spot.

LOL.

(((D)))

http://susibv.newsvine.com/_news/2010/07/30/4787115-right-wing-pundit-phyllis-schlafly-decries-government-assistance-for-unmarried-moms-?last=1280531297&threadId=1030847&sp=0&pc=25&commentId=16102075#c16102075

2 votes

#2.3 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 8:57 PM EDT

Someone posted one last week on bed bugs since then I've had dreams about them. I started itching in bed. I almost bought some high quality bed bug covers which they can't get out of before I realized I didn't even have them. On top of that the maintenance women told me she has been bit 3 times by brown recluses(2000 miles away) so I keep feeling spiders crawling on my feet!

Theres some good sources on them they help you identify if you even have them. The cracks of your mattresses will have blood spots all over them very easy to notice.

2 votes

#2.4 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 7:52 PM EDT

That is all part of the traveling itch... :-)

Good luck, Rhazes!

1 vote

#2.5 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 9:17 PM EDT

GoldenGateMami_Susi

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Itch!

;)

1 vote

#2.6 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 9:25 PM EDT

Yep. The instant, and I mean the absolute instant that you touch it, it has moved. It keeps me twitching all night, when I get it...

As my Grandma used to say, "You're just nersious!" (nervous)

In may case, she is probably right.

1 vote

#2.7 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 9:49 PM EDT

GoldenGateMami_Susi

I have always had an itchy back since I was a kid. My mom thought there was something wrong with me lolol.

Turns out it wasn't my itch LOL.

If I get an itch on my shoulder, touch it it jumps to a part of my back I can't reach and it drives me batty!
'

1 vote

#2.8 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 9:56 PM EDT

My mom thought the same thing! Still does... Oh well...

I have a wide variety of pre-bent coat hangers... They seem to get close, anyway. :-)

#2.9 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 9:58 PM EDT

Hey, they have to sleep too;-D Just don't let them in ur ear or u'll *never* hear the end of it.... *chomp* *chomp*....oh, look ma... we got a bit o' brain in here... "Dinner is served"... G'nite;-D

4 votes

#3 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 8:21 PM EDT

GoldenGateMami_Susi

Hey!

Now I'm itching again!

:(

lol

3 votes

#3.1 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 8:23 PM EDT

Sorry, Golden. Feel free to take a shower...lol. That might help;-D (sorry, rememberin' conversation from yesterday)....lol

2 votes

#3.2 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 8:34 PM EDT

GoldenGateMami_Susi

Goes from bad to totally ADad!

lolol.

Sigh.

2 votes

#3.3 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 8:41 PM EDT

My mind is not "itself"...

2 votes

#3.4 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 8:46 PM EDT

GoldenGateMami_Susi

Mine never has been.

:)

2 votes

#3.5 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 8:47 PM EDT

Two pods peein'... I mean two peas in a pod... yeah, that's it;-D

2 votes

#3.6 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 8:54 PM EDT

GoldenGateMami_Susi

ADaddddd is there sumpthin you wanna tell me?

LOLOLOL

;)

2 votes

#3.7 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 8:59 PM EDT

is there sumpthin you wanna tell me?

Like minds think alike... We'd be dangerous if we were in the same room... Oh the devious things we could come up with...hehe

2 votes

#3.8 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:07 PM EDT

GoldenGateMami_Susi

LOLOL ADad.

Great, slightly warped, minds.

Even worse!

;)

Devious. Hmm. That has merit.

:->

2 votes

#3.9 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 11:14 PM EDT

warped, wrapped... is there a difference???

2 votes

#3.10 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 12:09 AM EDT

GoldenGateMami_Susi

LOL Nope.

:)

You crack me up ADad thank you...

:)

2 votes

#3.11 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 12:18 AM EDT

Just don't let them in ur ear

Not funny! I went through a box of Q-tips this week since the last bed bug story.

1 vote

#3.12 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 7:54 PM EDT

GoldenGateMami_Susi

OMG, like who would let them!???

Great, im itching again!

LOL

1 vote

#3.13 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 7:58 PM EDT

Golden:

LOL Nope.

hehe

You crack me up ADad thank you...

I'm sorry, I thought u were hard-boiled... but, u must be a "softie" like me (only u have moreof 'em) ...hehe. Ur welcome.

1 vote

#4 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 10:16 AM EDT

GoldenGateMami_Susi

I'm sorry, I thought u were hard-boiled... but, u must be a "softie" like me (only u have moreof 'em) ...hehe. Ur welcome.

Nah, people just think I am. Those who get to know me, find out otherwise. I'm a softy, I just tell it like it is sometimes and when I need to get base....well, I do.

:)

2 votes

#4.1 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 1:09 PM EDT

Yay;-)

2 votes

#4.2 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 2:17 PM EDT

GoldenGateMami_Susi

LOL, ADad.

What part are you "Yaying" to.

;)

2 votes

#4.3 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 2:38 PM EDT

Golden:

people just think I am. Those who get to know me, find out otherwise. I'm a softy

Sorry, I confused ya.

1 vote

#5 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 3:21 PM EDT

GoldenGateMami_Susi

Ah. Ok, ADad. I'm always in a state of confusion---must be part of my (lol) charm.

:)

2 votes

#5.1 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 3:44 PM EDT

Or the beginnin's of Alzheimer's, dementia, schizophrenia, or any other fun neurological disorders...hehe

1 vote

#5.2 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 6:12 PM EDT

GoldenGateMami_Susi

Well, my dad has Alzheimer's and my grandmom had dementia---there have been studies that linked it to genetics.

But, no, I'm just "special" that way

LOL

2 votes

#5.3 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 6:16 PM EDT

Yeah, I know a great deal about genetics and issues dealin' w the brain. It's a hobby of mine.

Cool.

2 votes

#5.4 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 6:21 PM EDT

Say, ADad, my best friend's son has Asperger's... I bet you know about it... I've read some about it, but not enough. Is there anything you can tell me about it that would help me help her?

1 vote

#5.5 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 6:24 PM EDT

GoldenGateMami_Susi

Very cool ADad :)

The only thing I know about Asperger's is that it's one of the spectrum conditions in Austim. One of my daughter's classmates has Asperger's. Very high functioning young man, headed to college, very artistic.

1 vote

#5.6 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 6:31 PM EDT

I know... My best friend's son is a young man, about 26. He is very very intelligent, but has no direction. It is just perfectly fine to him to live in a car. He has held a job for a year, but has no, how do I put it, ooomph to do anything for himself. His mom pays his rent, he will start college, but drop out mid-semester, there isn't anything he wants to do. He can't look you in the eye. He speaks very softly, has a great vocabulary, but avoids human touch. When he writes, he writes volumes and volumes of stuff that is very difficult to understand-- and it is all conspiracy theory like stuff.

I think he is functional, but unable to do much beyond the very minimum to function. He doesn't fit into society, and, I guess I would venture to say he is, in many ways, anti-social...

But now, I'm a geologist, not a psychologist, so don't take my words as meaning in a 'clinical' sense.

I've always thought that he would either end up Governor, or a mass murderer, and likely nowhere in between. Neither one would surprise me in the least.

Does that make sense?

1 vote

#5.7 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 6:38 PM EDT

GoldenGateMami_Susi

Uneducated guess, that there are varying degress of this disorder just like there are with say Down's Syndrome. Maybe his lack of drive is just his personality and it has donthing to do with the Asperger's, I'm not sure. I haven't read that much on it.

I do know that my daughter's friend was mainstreamed very early on---always attended regular school, was encouraged to play sports and challenge himself so by the time he got to high school he was very self-motivated to be more about than just his condition. He got no special treatment even when it was made available (special accommodations, etc.), so I'm not sure like I said if its just personality or condition.

Ill have to read up on it. I'm hoping your friend's son finds a passion to direct himself towards.

1 vote

#5.8 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 6:59 PM EDT

Dowser:

Best thing I could do is refer ya to the following web page.

http://www.aspergers.com/

It will help u understand the various aspects of aspergers.

2 votes

#5.9 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 7:00 PM EDT

Thanks to you both! ADad, thanks for the web page!

I don't know, either-- he was not diagnosed until about two years ago, so he was always mainstreamed. :-)

That is how they did it when I was a kid, too!

2 votes

#5.10 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 7:08 PM EDT

GoldenGateMami_Susi

You're welcome, Dowswer :). Thanks, ADad :)

Can I ask why they waited so long to get a diagnosis?

1 vote

#5.11 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 7:11 PM EDT

He had been in therapy for most of his childhood, and nothing got better. So why didn't the therapist pick up on it? Perhaps it wasn't as well known 20 years ago? I have no idea. His mother is a nurse, and she read about it and thought, hmmmmm, that sounds like my kid. I think he was only diagnosed because his mother works at a hospital and he was evaluated by someone that she knew and trusted.

I think she did her very best for him as a child. I really do-- she was a single mother and worked days and nights to pay for him to see the therapist for years and years. Then, when he got to be a teenager, he went wild. She had him committed for several months to get him help from a home for children with mental disorders, but it didn't work, either. Nothing helps. Then, he joined the navy.

Somehow, I believe it has gotten worse for him, as an adult.

The diagnostic tools fit him to a T-- he has all of those symptoms, some to a large degree, others, not as much, but still there. He fixates on things, always has.

It is a mess and my heart breaks for her. I just don't think that 20+ years ago, they knew much about it, or had any idea what to do. He won't take medication, he feels he doesn't need it. He won't do anything that normal people do-- It is very sad.

1 vote

#5.12 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 7:21 PM EDT

Dowser:

No prob;-) He probably was not symptomatic. Brains develop differently.

1 vote

#5.13 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 7:31 PM EDT

GoldenGateMami_Susi

I feel for her Dowser. Being a single mom is hard enough without having a child that has special needs concerns. At least she has the diagnosis and it's never too late to get help and make progress, but now that he's an adult it would have to come from him.

No doubt she did the best for him and is still doing so. if he's not willing ot help himself though that's a tough thing especially for a mom to stand by and watch.

1 vote

#5.14 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 7:54 PM EDT

I feel for her too-- She has done everything she knows to do, but nothing seems to help. And if he won't recognize that it is a problem, then nothing can be done...

I think the Navy realized it. He was not asked to re-enlist.

Thanks, both of you!

1 vote

#5.15 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 9:19 PM EDT

GoldenGateMami_Susi

Well, he's an adult. If he's functioning its on him now. She can be a support but the rest is up to him.

He was in the Navy? That's great they gave him a chance, but I'm surprised they didn't catch on to it during the pre-enlistment and subsequent physicals and evals they go through during basic training.

My guess is that may be that was a blow to ego? confidence? self-esteem? A sense of failure?

Thanks for sharing this Dowswer & you're welcome :)

You're welcome...:)

1 vote

#5.16 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 9:33 PM EDT

I don't think he cared. At the time he enlisted, they were pretty desperate for anyone they could get, especially for sub school. And maybe, his loner tendencies were evaluated as being an asset to a submariner... I don't know.

But, he didn't seem to care one way or the other, whether he got out or stayed in. That is part of the problem, he just doesn't care. It isn't depression, per se, he just doesn't care. About anything. He doesn't seem to need or want human contact. He has a job only to buy food. I think if he didn't get hungry, he'd starve.

And you're right, she is being supportive, but that is about all anyone can do. He has an apartment because she pays for it. But, she isn't all that sure he actually stays in it. He may just sleep in his car because it is too much trouble to get out and go upstairs.

I love you, dear Susi! I wish I could help her and him. But nothing I can do, especially from over here... :-)

I love the Sisterhood of the Traveling Itch! We may have to start a club... :-)

1 vote

#5.17 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 9:53 PM EDT

GoldenGateMami_Susi

Wow. Sub school is not easy to get into. His smarts got him there. Subs are tight fitting quarters. Being able to deal with close quarters, no contact with the topside world for months at a time....trust me it was bad enough being a wife of a surface sailor, sub wives went batty and the crews even worse and they don't have the "freedom" sometimes of beinb able to get on the internet, etc.

Don't know what to say except keep encouraging her to have him seek deeper professional help. It looks like an obvious cry for help maybe this complete sense of not caring? It's scary.

Love you too Dowswer.

A club would be fun :)

1 vote

#5.18 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 10:07 PM EDT

I think so too-- on both counts. He is scary, and a club would be fun! lol!

:-)

1 vote

#5.19 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 10:20 PM EDT

GoldenGateMami_Susi

I feel for his mama. As moms we always fear our kids having difficult roads to bare in their lives.

Yes, a club of Vine women would be fun :)

#5.20 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 10:36 PM EDT

I know she is worried about him-- frantically worried at times.

Oh yes! :-)

1 vote

#5.21 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:06 PM EDT

GoldenGateMami_Susi

I'm sure and she has your friendship and suppor an I'm sure that helps.

Hmm. It may have possibilities.

:)

#5.22 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:37 PM EDT

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